HARDINGHAM, Kyle

Kyle Hardingham was recruited from East Fremantle at pick 7 in the 2010 Pre-season Draft.

He was described as courageous with the versatility to play in almost any position on the ground.

He had a dream start to his AFL career in 2010 when he kicked four goals on debut in a thrilling three-point win over North Melbourne in Round 17, to break the Bombers' six-game losing streak that season. He finished with six games in his first year.

He shifted seamlessly from attack to defence in his second season, playing 22 games - missing only one through suspension - and finishing second for marks and ninth for kicks at the Club. He signed another two-year deal at the end of the year, keeping him at the Bombers until the end of 2013.

He again had a strong season in defence in 2012, but struggled to hold down a regular spot thereafter. Despite this, he signed a one-year extension till the end of 2014.

He was delisted at the end of 2014 but stayed on to play in Essendon's VFL team and act as vice-captain and a development coach. The suspensions due to the supplements saga meant he missed the 2016 season and he joined Pascoe Vale in the EDFL as playing coach in 2017 and 2018.

He then had several years as coach of Doutta Stars, also in the EDFL, but reluctantly resigned at the end of 2020 to return to Western Australia. He explained that the lack of family support in Melbourne during the Covid-19 restrictions had been challenging, so he made the difficult decision to return to his home state.

In Perth, he became Senior Site Manager at Dale Alcock Projects and senior coach at his junior club, the Bullcreek-Leeming Senior Football Club.